State Secretary of Slovakia Jaroslav Kmel said at an official meeting with representatives of Chinese railway carriers that subsidies will be introduced in the form of discounts on railway transportation organized along the so-called New Silk Road. These activities are ultimately aimed at helping Slovakia increase its current traffic share on this route.

Slovakia plans to subsidize rail transport on the Silk Road

Until now, the countries that fought for participation in the transport process were Lithuania, Hungary and Poland. Russia has also joined the race to participate in this project, reports railway magazine Railway Supply, citing Rynek Kolejowy.

Slovakia has not used the full potential of its status as a border state, which in a sense is becoming a transshipment terminal for Chinese goods to the European market. Due to the aforementioned subsidies, the cost of rail transport along the New Silk Road will be more favorable, which will facilitate the use of Slovak services.

According to preliminary data, it is planned to introduce a state discount program, which will apply directly to individual containers. Preliminary negotiations with the carriers, determining the amount of the margin, as well as with the Chinese side, suggest that it will be possible to achieve a price reduction to 200-300 euros per container.

For now, subsidies remain in the planning sphere, although it seems clear that Slovakia already has a certain vision of its presence among the countries providing transport services on the Europe-East route. Thus, after a while it may become a serious competitor to the existing transshipment terminals located in Hungary or Poland.

Railway news you may have missed:

Kharkiv denied information on signing an agreement on the construction of Stadler plants

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit